Prime
Step up efforts to kick out fuel adulteration
What you need to know:
The issue:
Fuel adulteration.
Our view:
Although UNBS announced early last year that the vice had dropped to less than one per cent, it is something we need to weed out completely due to the serious consequences it poses.
First, is on the damage it inflicts on the environment.
In 2018, Uganda banned the importation of cars older than 15 years. The reason for this was to reduce accidents and, most importantly, carbon emissions.
This, of course, had a negative impact on the used cars import business. Although records show that used motor vehicle imports have in the last three years cumulatively declined, and impacting government revenue in the process, the ban was a welcome move because we were saving the environment.
However, it was disappointing to learn this week that Uganda is still grappling with the challenge of fuel adulteration, a major contributor to tailpipe emissions.
The Uganda National Bureau of Standards said diesel is the most adulterated (diluted) fuel and much of this happens while fuel is in transit into the country. Uganda consumes about six million litres of fuel per day.
Adulteration of fuel means mixing fuel with other components with the aim of increasing its quantity. The most common way in which it is done is by mixing kerosene and petrol, or kerosene and diesel.
Although UNBS announced early last year that the vice had dropped to less than one per cent, it is something we need to weed out completely due to the serious consequences it poses.
First, is the damage it inflicts on the environment. Small amounts of kerosene added to diesel, for example, record significant changes in tailpipe emissions. Increased emissions of hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, oxides of nitrogen and particulate matter intoxicate the air from such fuels. And although not all forms of adulteration are harmful, experts warn that health problems, include cancer, could result from harmful tailpipe emissions.
Second is the costly visits to the garage. This is worsened by modern engines that have refined systems tailored for better atomisation of fuels. This results in engine malfunctions, failure of components and compromised safety are on record.
And third is the loss of revenue. The adulteration of petrol and diesel with kerosene creates unfair competition for players engaged in legitimate trade, with the country losing billions because of tax evasion.
Government should be commended for the efforts it has put in to kick out the vice since fuel testing programmes were introduced in 1999. These include interventions such as fuel marking and mobile testing.
But this has to be stepped up to ensure the safety of motorists and that we save the environment. Otherwise the drastic measure we took to ban the importation of some used cars will be for nothing.
